(Associated Press via NewsEdge) The executive who led Microsoft's Web search division is leaving his post with the software maker to start his own business, Microsoft people aware of the situation said.
Christopher Payne is the corporate VP in charge of Windows Live Search, formerly MSN Search, an effort the company launched after its search partner Inktomi was acquired by Web portal business Yahoo Inc. in 2003.
The people aware of the situation insisted on anonymity because they did not have permission from the company to speak about the matter.
Payne did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment or return a call to his home in Seattle.
In spite of its efforts to build buzz around the Live brand, Microsoft's sites handle far fewer queries than the industry leader, Google, and the No. 2 player, Yahoo.
According to research group Nielsen/NetRatings Inc., Microsoft snagged about 9% of U.S. searches in January, compared with Google's 54% and Yahoo's 23%.
Microsoft's actual number of searches rose from about 523,000 in January 2005 to about 643,000 in the same month this year, while Google's more than doubled from about 1.9 million to about 3.9 million, the research group said.
During a conference call following Microsoft's second-quarter earnings, Microsoft cut expectations for revenue growth in its online services business, which includes Live Search and other Web properties. The company now forecasts revenue growth from 3% to 8%, down from a more optimistic view issued after first-quarter earnings for 7% to 11% growth.
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